Swimming for dollars

PICKENS COUNTY – Beginning next month, the Pickens County YMCA will audition a new swimming event to raise money for a familiar cause.

“Each year the YMCA helps hundreds of families in need,” said Executive CEO, Sid Collins. “Whether it is helping a single mother with after school care or a senior who needs therapy time in the pool, the YMCA’s scholarship fund is there to help. In 2012, the YMCA gave out 109,000 in scholarships in the Easley, Pickens, Powdersville and Wren areas. An event like the Swim-A-Thon allows the YMCA to help others in significant ways.”

The Share the Spirit Swim-A-Thon will begin on Saturday November 2, and will take place at the Pickens YMCA from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The Pickens YMCA has a large number of members who swim laps in our indoor pool as a way of exercise, and many of them have even joined our brand new Masters Swim team,” said Branch Executive, Ryan Smith. “The Swim-A-Thon is a way to give those members, who want to participate, a way to engage in our Share the Spirit Scholarship Campaign while doing something exciting like swimming.”

Smith expects the event to raise $5,000 for the YMCA’s Share the Spirit scholarship program.

“We are expecting a big turnout, and our goal this year is to raise $5,000 for our scholarship campaign so more families can benefit from all of the great services we offer at the YMCA,” he said.

According to YMCA officials, the goal of the event is for each swimmer to raise $100 per hour.

“The goal is for each swimmer to raise $100 per hour of swimming,” said Christy Stancill of the YMCA. “Swimmers can choose to swim for one hour or six hours. And for those who don’t want to swim there are other ways to help; sponsor a swimmer, provide refreshments, water or prizes.”

The event will also include music, refreshments and door prizes with additional prizes being awarded to the individual who raises the most money and swims the most laps.

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